MANAonline
MACRA launches construction of 75 ICT laboratory Centre’s
By Bishop Witmos
Mangochi, May 8, Mana: Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA) through Connect a School Project launched construction of 75 Information Communication Technologies (ICT) laboratory Centre’s in Community Day Secondary Schools (CDSS) across the country.
This Connect a School Project is under the Universal Service Fund, a digital inclusion arm of MACRA as the project seeks to build CDSS’s capacity as community ICT Centre’s, targets over 40,000 students and 250,000 community members access the Centre’s.
Speaking during the official ground-breaking ceremony of the construction of the Centre’s at Nkope CDSS in Mangochi on Tuesday, Head of the Universal Service Fund at MACRA, Ronald Tembo said that Connect a School Project is a flagship project for MACRA in line with National Digitalization Policy.
‘‘In this project, we have taken a different model where we are working with the community, particularly the artisans who are trained by TEVETA and these are people who will be under management of National Construction Industry Council.’’
‘‘For us to make access for internet to all, we need a very good internet capacity in the country. MACRA is working on a diplomatic data corridor to introduce Yathu data which aims to cover all the rural areas with affordable and reliable internet,” he added.
Tembo disclosed that MACRA was installing technology towers to be spreading both mobile network and broadcasting signals in the unserved communities.
He added that apart from constructing ICT laboratories in schools, MACRA intends to construct a total of 9,000 ICT laboratories in most public institutions, a project which would cost the communication regulatory authority over K 7. Billion.
Director of Science, Technology and Innovation in the Ministry of Education, Prof. Chomora Mikeka said that Connect a School Project would help to build a human capital that would meet the demanded digital labour market.
He said the project was ideal in the digital transformation as it would help to transform the country’s economy.
‘‘This is a very critical project, as Malawians have demanded that we put each and every school an ICT lab in order to facilitate education digitalization, but also digital transformation in the country. This is bringing connectivity to schools and this is the way to go towards the Agenda 2063,’’ Mikeka said.
Out 6,954 Primary Schools in the country only 140 schools are connected to internet, while out of 1,774 Secondary Schools, a handful are connected to the internet, according to the Director.
Sub-Traditional Authority (STA) Chiwalo commended government for considering Nkope CDSS as one of the learning institutions to benefit from the project.
Drop in cases of children conflicting with the law
By Ernest Mfunya
Mangochi, May 8, Mana: Mangochi Police Station has disclosed that the district has registered a decrease in children found in conflict with the law in the first quarter of 2024 as compared to figures that were registered in similar quarter last year.
Mangochi Police Station Public Relations Officer (PRO), Inspector, Amina Daudi told Malawi News Agency (Mana) on Tuesday that 30 minors were found in conflict with the law from January to April, 2024 year while 50 minors were arrested within the same period in 2023.
According to PRO, most of the criminal offences that the minors were in conflict with include house breaking and theft which she described as unfortunate and counterproductive to the development of the district.
“Statistics have shown that there is a decline in number of minors in conflict with the law in the first quarter of this year as compared to last year. All 30 minors are males unlike last year when out of 50 minors; 3 were females," Daudi said.
She attributed the decline to various interventions that the station implemented since January, 2024 citing community awareness as parents were sensitized how to monitor and control children so that they should not be in conflict with the law.
“We do diversions. This is where a child who commits a minor offence is consoled and sent back home,” Daudi added.
She expressed the station’s commitment to end cases of minors involved in crime and asked development partners to support the station.
“Collaboration is key in preventing children from conflicting with the law,” the PRO viewed.
Youth Net and Counselling (YONECO) Project Officer, Grant Dula said that collaboration play a crucial role in minimizing cases of children found in conflict with the law in the district.
He commended Mangochi Police for implementing various interventions in collaboration with stakeholders to deal with crime in the district.
"There is good coordination between the police and other stakeholders in the district. When you work as a team it is likely for you to achieve your goals," the Officer said.
Dula pleaded with duty bearers in the district to intensify social behaviour change and psychosocial counselling programmes to minors as well as sensitization meetings with parents citing lack of parental care is one of the factors that drive children into crime.
Network hinders implementation of BIFIT programme
By Aliko Munde
Chitipa, May 8, Mana: Some stakeholders in Building Education Foundation Innovation and Technology (BEFIT) Programme in Chitipa District have said that telecommunications network was a challenge that is hindering smooth implementation of the programme.
Primary Education Advisor (PEA) for Nkhwangwa Education Zone, Jonathan Kayira said that most of the schools which are implementing the programme face internet network problems.
He said this Tuesday during BIFIT quarterly review meeting which was attended by a cross section of the programme’s stakeholders.
Kayira said that most of the schools in the zone access Tanzania Telecommunications Network, which he said cannot facilitate implementation of the initiative.
“We usually have a Tanzania Telecommunications Network and if we want to access our networks, we go to a specific place where the network is erratic,” he added.
The PEA appealed to the government and mobile service providers to come to the rescue of the area for learners to benefit from the programme.
Acting Director of Health and Social Services (DHSS) for Chitipa, Dr. George Kasondo said
that Chitipa District Council engaged the local mobile network providers so that they increased coverage in underserviced areas.
Chitipa District has 184 public primary schools, out of which 30 are implementing programme.
The programme in which promotes use of tablets by learners was launched on September 11, 2023.
MBTS surpasses blood collection with 11%
By Petro Mkandawire
Blantyre, May 8, Mana: Malawi Blood Transfusion Services (MBTS) has surpassed an annual target of 110,000 pints of blood after collecting 122,428 pints in the year 2023/2024 representing 11 per cent compared to last year when it collected 77,754 pints.
Marketing and Public Relations Manager, Janet Katonda disclosed this in an interview with Malawi News Agency (MANA) on Tuesday in Blantyre.
She said MBTS was meant to collect 75,599 pints in the year 2022/2023 but it surpassed this by 3 per cent, adding that blood collection was progressing well every year due to among other factors involvement of faith and community leaders and other people of good will in the blood collection campaigns
“We are geared to strengthen our relationship with blood donors, corporate stakeholders as well as community and faith leaders. These partners play a bigger role in blood collection processes because they help in mobilizing people to donate blood and they also make available blood donation facilities,” Katonda said.
She added that community awareness campaigns, mobile clinics, and social mobilization are some of the strategies MBTS put in place to help in dealing with myths and misconceptions that hinder blood collection processes.
The Manager thanked and encouraged blood donors to continue donating blood regularly to maintain level of blood in the banks.
Executive Director of Malawi Health Equity Network (MHEN), George Jobe told Mana that MHEN takes a role of sensitizing people on the importance of donating blood to those in need.
He added that MHEN plays an advisory role to MBTS on how it should mobilize people to donate blood and other blood collection strategies to ensure adequate blood in their storage.
“We are grateful to hear that MBTS has surpassed their target. As MHEN we have been engaging MBTS to have the Unstructured Supplemented Service Data (USSD) strategy as a way of communicating with communities on the need to donate blood,” he said.
Jobe added that Malawians should be assured that blood donation was a humane gesture that saves many beloved lives in the country’s hospitals.
He said there should be ways and means of dealing with myths and misconceptions that have potential to hinder blood collection and donation at the expense of those that are in dire need of blood.
WASH DSIP launched in Dowa
By Sylvester Kumwenda
Dowa, May 8, Mana: Deputy Minister of Water and Sanitation, Liana Kakhobwe Chapota has government was committed to ensuring that every Malawian has access to potable water and good sanitation in line with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) number 6,
She said this Tuesday during the launch Dowa District Councils' 2024-2028 District Strategic Investment Plan (DSIP) for Water, Sanitation and Health (WASH).
'We are geared to ensure that as well as the Malawi 2063 which amongst others vies for potable water and sanitation for all.
"We want District Councils to align their initiatives to the policies and initiatives of the Ministry, so that they work hand in hand. We are therefore excited with this launch because this document has taken into consideration all these essential requirements," Chapota said.
She called all relevant stakeholders to put in concerted efforts to develop the sector.
The Deputy Minister said the launch marks a significant milestone in the council's commitment towards sustainable and Resilient WASH development for the District.
Chapota pointed that the Council should ensure full implementation of the plan saying the launch should not be the end towards its execution.
"In order to ensure that the Plan is operational, I request the District Council and all partners present to ensure that everyone knows about the plan and has access to it, all actors are aligned to it and report against it, and potential funders are approached and have committed to the plan.
" The Plan should be monitored and annually reviewed with all stakeholders for accountability, periodically updated, use the plan to influence annual planning and budgeting, and institutional capacity building for effective and sustainable implementation of the plan," she said.
Chairperson for Dowa District Council, Mayamiko Kambewa said the district was improving in terms of WASH and sanitation.
" We are currently at over 80 percent in terms of access to potable water for the population. In terms of open defecation, we only have 2 percent of the population still doing that.
"But in issues of sanitation, even if one person is not being hygienic enough, it might affect the whole village or community. So, we want to reach 100 percent in all these aspects," he said.
Kambewa urged all implementing partners in the district to align their work towards the plan and reach out to all communities including hard to reach ones.
The Plan was developed in collaboration with WASH players such as World Vision, Red Cross, Pump Aid, Beyond Water, Feed the Children, Beyond Water, Orant Charities and Self Help Africa.
Systems Manager for Self Help Africa, Joseph Kiambuthi said the Plan was home grown, and a product of an intensive and participatory process involving mapping of WASH access, developing a shared vision of universal WASH access, and identifying steps required over the fine years to deliver the joint vision.
"I would like to take this opportunity to confirm Self Help Africa and partners for their commitment to supporting government, the Ministry and District councils where we are working in to strengthen WASH systems to achieve sustainable WASH services," he added.
The WASH DSIP is to guide the council's implementation of activities in WASH and sanitation for the period and was launched under the theme “Delivering Sustainable and Resilient WASH Services for Productive Human Capital Development”.
Poor Law enforcement catalyses poverty in the country
By Majona Mnjuzi
Mchinji, May 8, Mana: Research findings presented by Churches Action in Relief and Development (CARD) in partnership with Christian Aid and Lilongwe University of Agricultural (LUANAR) unveiled that poor law enforcement nurtures vendors and other unscrupulous individuals to rob from farmers,
Speaking during a research presentation at Mchinji District Executive Committee (DEC) meeting, Director of Centre for Agricultural Research and Development (CARD) from LUANAR, Innocent Pangapanga Phiri, stressed that lack of capacity of the existing local and central government structures provide room for vendors to offer unaccepted price of farm produce.
“Vendors are buying agricultural commodities at lower price. Notable example is maize, Government set K650 as starting price but vendors are buying at K410 for maize which is exploitation of the farmers. With such prices, farmers cannot graduate from poverty,” Phiri said.
Mchinji District Principal Nutrition and HIV/Aids Officer (PNHAO), Davie Panyani, hailed the research findings as a whistle blower for relevant stakeholders to develop policies that will deter such vendors’ tendency.
“The research findings have been presented on time, and as Mchinji district council we will incorporate these findings in our District Development Plan (DDP) to ensure swift action has been taken. Currently, we are intensifying climate smart agriculture as the first pillar of Malawi Vision 2063, and ensure that people are graduating from poverty line,” said Panyani.
LUANAR in partnership with Christian Aid and CARD conducted a development study aimed at “rethinking poverty” at Tradition Authority (T/A) Mavwere in Mchinji district.
Similar study is also expected to be done in Burundi and Democratic Republic of Congo.
MEC dates Kasungu stakeholders
By Wanangwa Tembo
Kasungu, May 8, Mana: District Commissioner for Kasungu, James Kanyangalazi has appealed to the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) to deploy civic and voter educators in good time considering that there are new electoral laws in place.
Speaking Tuesday in Kasungu at the end of a MEC’s two-day stakeholders engagement, Kanyangalazi said since there has been enactment of new legislation for elections, it is imperative that there should be thorough civic education for the electorate.
“We know that many things have changed in the management of elections. For example, constituency and ward boundaries have changed in some areas.
“Likewise, there are also changes in some of the laws governing the elections. All this require that civic educators be deployed in good time so that there is proper awareness,” he said.
Kanyangalazi said the district team is ready and willing to support the electoral process in order to help the commission deliver credible elections.
MEC Commissioner Olivia Liwewe said the engagement was a platform for the electoral body to interact with stakeholders so that they also prepare for the polls.
“We were here to interact with chiefs, political leaders through the Multiparty Liaison Committee, civil society, the media and other stakeholders on the forthcoming elections.
“We have given out the elections calendar and also highlighted critical issues in the laws that have changed so that we walk together knowing how the elections will be conducted,” she said.
Liwewe, who chairs the commission’s electoral services committee, said it is important to involve stakeholders so that they know how the electoral body has prepared for the general elections.
In an interview, Senior Chief Simlemba thanked MEC for the engagement saying such activities enhance the transparency of the electoral process.
Some of the crucial electoral laws that have changed are the adjustment of the time to close polling centres from 6pm to 4pm, outlawing of handouts and criminalisation of podium insults of other political players.
At least 10.5 million Malawians will be heading to the seventh democratic general elections on 16 September, 2025 to elect president, members of parliament and councillors.
Norwegian Government commits to continue supporting smallholder farmers in Malawi
By George Mponda
Karonga, May 8, Mana: Norwegian Ambassador to Malawi Ingrid Marie Mikelsen has pledged her government’s commitment to continue supporting smallholder farmers in Malawi amidst adverse effects of climate change.
Mikelsen was speaking Tuesday when she inspected a Rice Milling Plant belonging to Kaporo Smallholder Farmers’ Association of Malawi which is under National Smallholder Farmers’ Association of Malawi (NASFAM) and paddy fields belonging to some rice seed multipliers in Karonga District.
" Partnership between NASFAM and Norwegian Government started in 2000. Smallholder farmers promote government efforts in ensuring food security, they should add value to their farm produce for them to have ready markets for their produce," Mikelsen said.
Norway understands the effects of climate change on agriculture in Malawi. This is why our government will continue supporting smallholder farmers for them to be resilient and mitigate such effects by practising climate smart agriculture,” said Mikelsen.
In her remarks, Chief Executive Officer for NASFAM, Betty Chinyamunyamu hailed the Norwegian Government for its support to smallholder farmers in Karonga who grow Kilombero Rice under KASFAM.
" We depend on smallholder farmers in terms of food security and forex through their agricultural exports. We encourage them sell their farm produce and sell in bulk to attract good prices as such, NASFAM Commercial buys from them hence realizing reasonable profits," Chinyamunyamu said.
She then advised smallholder farmers in Malawi to form cooperatives for them to access better markets and farm mechanisation equipment at cheaper prices.
One of the seed mutlipliers under KASFAM, Kings Mwambene from Fundi Village in the area of Senior Chief Kilipura in the district said collective selling out farm produce has proved a very productive and efficient initiative in agribusiness.
PDU hail pre-Tourism lab session
By Sheminah Nkhoma
Lilongwe, May 8, Mana: Director of Presidential Delivery Unit (PDU) responsible for Industrialization and infrastructure development Enwell Kadango has applauded the Pre- Tourism Lab session as a significant step in the preparation of main lab.
Speaking during the closing ceremony of two -day Pre-Tourism Lab session in Lilongwe, Kadango said the meeting has been successful because of the active participation as they were able to highlight gaps which are in the Tourism Sector.
“We were looking on issues of policy and legal frameworks, products and marketing as well as Infrastructure Investment which are not fully developed in the Tourism sector”, said Kadango.
Kadango further said the Pre-Lab helps to bring issues together with the aim of finding solutions.
“To ensure the success of Tourism sector we had to bring stakeholders from different sectors which are connected to this industry to help each other so that tourism strives in the country”, he said.
In his remarks, Secretary for Tourism Chauncy Simwaka, appreciated the PDU for organizing the event as it has helped them to know some of the setbacks faced in the tourism sector.
“Stakeholders came together to look into various impediments in the development of tourism sector because they are a lot of challenges which needs to be addressed to have an effective industry”, said Simwaka.
The main Pre -Tourism Lab session is expected to take place on May 28, 2024.
Public urged to embrace resilient spirit
By Moses Nyirenda
Lilongwe, May 7, Mana: Office of President and Cabinet (OPC) Principal Secretary, Dr. Anjimile Mtila has urged people in the country to embrace the spirit of resilience if they are to move on amidst various natural catastrophes such as droughts and floods which the country experiences.
She made the remarks on Tuesday in Lilongwe during the opening ceremony of the three-day National Resilience Strategy Phase 1 Review Workshop organized by Department of Disaster Management Affairs (DODMA) and its partners including Care Malawi and United States Agency for International Development (USAID) among others.
Mtila said that people in the country are strong and there is need for them to exercise resilience to the shocks induced by natural disasters.
“Malawians are already resilient by birth, all of us survived childhood diseases and we are very strong and when disasters come we are able to face them,” Mtila said.
She also said that people in the country should stop relying on maize cultivation in order to maintain crop production resilience amidst natural calamities.
“We focus too much on maize and when there are problems such as drought then we have no food the whole year, but if we focus on other crops like cassava, sweet potatoes and sorghum then we would have food all year round.
In addition, when we grow maize the next six months after we harvest, land just stays idle as we do not grow anything else on the land until the next rains and with this we always have food in security all year round,” she said.
Also speaking during the opening of the three-day workshop, DoDMA Director of Resilience and Recovery, Peter Chimangeni said that as DODMA they are striving to develop various strategies and interventions aimed at building resilience in the country.
“We have the 2063 agenda and so many other documents that highlight what can be done to bring the country to resilience, we are very positive that we are going to achieve what is needed on the issue of resilience.
But also the coming of the new disaster law is also quite handy for us to make sure that we spearhead issues to do with resilience building and we are sure that we will make substantial progress by 2030,” Chimangeni said.
Also speaking at the function, Care Malawi Chief of Party, Daniel Abbott said that his organizations is committed to working with government in implementing projects that would help to come up with resilient solutions to the problems caused by natural disasters.
